US: Safeway to cut nearly 400 corporate positions
Albertsons plans to cut spending by $1.5bln over the next three years, and those cuts have begun to roll out in the form of nearly 400 layoffs of Safeway corporate employees and more than 100 associates at a Safeway store in San Francisco.
Source: supermarketnews.com
US: Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage announces first quarter fiscal 2025 results
Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage, Inc. announced results for its first quarter of fiscal 2025 ended December 31, 2024. Highlights for first quarter fiscal 2025 compared to first quarter fiscal 2024: net sales increased 9.4% to $330.2mln; daily average comparable store sales increased 8.9%, and increased 15.1% on a two-year basis; net income increased 28.1% to $9.9mln, with diluted earnings per share of $0.43.
Source: prnewswire.com
US: Import cargo levels expected to remain high ahead of rising tariffs
Imports at the nation's major container ports are expected to remain high as retailers continue to bring in cargo ahead of growing tariffs on China and threats against other countries, according to the Global Port Tracker report by the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates.
Source: nrf.com
US: Ingles' Q1 sales fall 13% following Hurricane Helene
Ingles Markets said it lost between $55mln and $65mln in revenues during the first three weeks alone after Hurricane Helene swept through western North Carolina on September 27, 2024. Four of the Asheville, North Carolina-based company's stores were closed due to damages from the storm, only one of which has since reopened. The remaining three stores are slated to reopen later this year.
Source: supermarketnews.com
Aldi USA eyes record breaking 2025 as it progresses with five year nationwide growth strategy
Aldi USA reports that it is adding more than 225 new stores in 2025, the most it has launched in a single year. The retailer is converting approximately 220 Southeastern Grocers locations to the Aldi format through 2027. It has closed a transaction to divest approximately 170 Winn-Dixie and Harveys Supermarket stores to a consortium including C&S Wholesale Grocers, Southeastern Grocers senior leadership and private investors. "In 2025, we'll make history as we add 225+ stores. Our growth projection is as ambitious as our team is talented and dedicated to making grocery shopping better (and more affordable) for everyone. Here's to another year of growing together", says Jason Hart, CEO at Aldi USA.
Source: retailtechinnovationhub.com
US: UNFI to close Indiana distribution center as it strives to become more efficient
United Natural Foods, Inc. (UNFI) is preparing to close a distribution center in Fort Wayne, Indiana, this month as part of an ongoing effort by the grocery retailer and wholesaler to improve efficiency, a company spokesperson confirmed in a statement to Grocery Dive.
Source: grocerydive.com
Amazon to invest 100bln in "biggest opportunity since the internet"
While Amazon experienced a strong 2024, culminating in its "most successful holiday season ever", the e-commerce giant has committed to invest a hundred billion euros in what it calls "the biggest technology shift and opportunity since the internet".
Source: retaildetail.eu
BRC confirms optimism on UK retail footfall in January
Retail footfall in January showed a much-needed increase compared with last year, according to the latest figures from the British Retail Consortium (BRC). The BRC-Sensormatic figures indicate that total UK footfall was up by 6.6% on January last year, compared with a year-on-year fall of 2.2% in December.
Source: talkingretail.com
Spain: Grupo MAS posts double-digit turnover growth in 2024
Spain's Grupo MAS exceeded its 2024 sales target with turnover amounting to €675mln, representing a 10.6% increase year on year driven by its focus on fresh and locally sourced products. The company also plans to introduce a new automated system for handling fruit and vegetables at its Guillena logistics centre in 2026.
Source: esmmagazine.com
UK: Lidl opening nine stores in one month
Lidl reported: "Canning Town, Preston, Walsall, and Wombourne are all getting new stores. Meanwhile, a further five communities will see a bigger and better Lidl re-open in their area following significant investment. This will include stores in Blantyre, Cwmbran, Oldbrook, Wells, and West Ealing".
In other news: Lidl announces pay increase for 28,000 hourly-paid colleagues nationwide.
Source: corporate.lidl.co.uk
UK: M&S boss says retailers 'raided like a piggy bank'
UK retailers are being "raided like a piggy bank", the boss of Marks & Spencer has said, as the sector faces rising taxes. Writing in the Sunday Times, Stuart Machin said retailers were facing a series of headwinds, including the increase in National Insurance Contributions (NICs) paid by firms and higher packaging levies.
Source: bbc.com
Snappy Shopper and convenience retailer Girish Jeeva achieve 24/7 delivery first in Scotland
Retailer Girish Jeeva has launched 24/7 delivery through Snappy Shopper from his flagship Premier @ Barmulloch store, making it the first physical location in Scotland to launch this service with the company.
Source: retailtechinnovationhub.com
UK: Aldi expert shares the secrets of its fruit and veg aisle
Aldi's Managing Director for Buying, Julie Ashfield, has lifted the lid on a few facts shoppers might not know about the fruit and veg aisle. "We guarantee fresh fruit and veg, or your money back" - Ashfield shared: "We work hard with our suppliers to ensure we're providing customers with the best quality fresh fruit and veg. This means carefully transporting lines like our fresh berries to keep them chilled throughout their journey to ensure they are at the best quality and freshness for our customers".
Source: lowestoftjournal.co.uk
UK: Samy group opens three more Morrisons Daily stores
Independent retailer the Samy Group opened a new Morrisons Daily in Yardley, Birmingham, on Wednesday. In the same week the group also opened two other Morrisons Dailys in Kettering and Stafford, which means it now operates more than 30 stores with the group.
Source: talkingretail.com